Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rose 3% in 2011 to All Time High

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has released a report in conjunction with the Netherlands’ Environmental Assessment Agency which finds that greenhouse gas emissions in 2011 were at an all time high; rising 3% from the year before to 34 billion tonnes.

Once again China toped the table, accounting for 29% of the world total, a massive increase of 9% from the year before, and the equivalent of between 6-19 tonnes for every person; a similar level to major industrial countries.

The US came in second with 16%, the equivalent of 7.5 metric tonnes per capita; an actual 2% decrease compared to 2010.

The EU produced 11% of emissions, India 6%, Russia 5%, and Japan 4%.

The two fastest growing economies, China and India, accounted for over a third of total global emissions.

The UN has already set a target to limit the rise in average global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, the study notes that “if the current global trend of increasing carbon emissions continues, cumulative emissions will surpass this limit within the next two decades.”

I wonder if it about time to put our heads between our legs and kiss our backsides goodbye.

Can't blame the scientists, they are limited by integrity (and don’t reply with “Climategate” without checking your facts on the issue, especially the number or investigations that have completely exonerated those concerned). Integrity seems to be the last thing on the minds of the denialati. There is even one U.K. peer of the realm who goes around the world misrepresenting what scientists say so that it means the complete opposite of what was actually said. And people actually applaud him, even though he is endangering their offspring!

These figures should be a source of much concern to all, yet many, indeed probably the majority, will simply regurgitate what they have been told: climate change is nothing to worry out. The hell it isn’t.

I have one desire as far as this issue is concerned and that is to see all the TV and printed media pundits and columnists, plus the aforementioned peer, who have been preaching the gospel according to the fossil fuel industry put in jail along with the executives within that fossil fuel industry responsible for constructing the false gospel. They have much to answer for and it should not go unpunished. If the outcome of climate change is what many now fear, these people have committed a crime against humanity.